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Welcome to another edition of “Reader Questions”! Here’s a questions from Terry that he left on the 50+ Jobs for Former Teachers link roundup. Do you have a question? Leave a comment on this post or contact me!

Hi Sarah,

I’ve been following your blog now for a few months and I have a question regarding the skill set needed for say an Instructional Designer position. I have been watching LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed job sites for job openings and many of those jobs under IDS say things like Captivate, Wimba, iSpring, LAMS among a host of other Learning Management Systems are necessary to perform designated job duties. How does one become proficient in these software systems that are prohibitively expensive?

Having conducted a few informational interviews with trainers and designers, they all say get the ATD (formerly ASTD) certification (also very expensive). Does one really have to spend money on either training or certification to become a skilled Instructional Designer? I spent a bit on my Masters and don’t want to set myself back any further. As a long-time EFL teacher ready to bring the family back home, any advice on building a portfolio or updating the résumé would be helpful as well.

Thanks for your time Sarah and I hope that my question helps others looking for similar answers!

– Terry in USA

Hi Terry,

Thanks so much for stopping by with a comment! Like all things career, the answer to your awesome question is complicated and takes a little gambling. Here’s how I see it:

1. Yes, Hiring Managers Like Degrees

An advanced degree will almost always help you get an interview and then possibly get the job. A degree or certification not only indicates knowledge and experience, but it also indicates commitment. That allows hiring managers feel safe knowing you’re a professional. (Keep in mind, though, that an advanced teaching degree such as a Master’s in Arts in Teaching counts as an advanced degree! My husband once got the interview for an ISD job based on his Master’s in Arts in Teaching degree and by doing a few of the things listed below.)

2. But That’s Not All They Like

…However, an advanced degree is not the only way to establish knowledge, experience, and commitment! It’s just the easiest, and that’s why it’s so expensive (It can be done good, fast, or or cheap, but you only get to pick two, right?).

I deeply believe that anyone can put together a self-education path using free and low-cost resources online that will establish them as a professional in a given field. (See also: The Personal MBA at http://personalmba.com/manifesto/).

For the example of ISD, you’re absolutely correct that the technologies are prohibitively expensive. But there are a few workarounds to get *some* experience on your resume: each of the platforms offers a free trial, so you could download one per month over the summer with a book from the library and throw yourself into creating sample lessons and learning experiences (a spec portfolio). For bonus points, you could also time the trial for when you have an interview so that you could custom create a learning experience for the company you interview with.

You could also get in touch with a nearby library or college library and see what technology they offer (for free) on their onsite computers (AKA the local library where I live has a digital media lab with a 3D printer and other crazy things I don’t even know about). So… it’s definitely not easy, but it’s doable if you wanted to hack it.

3. You Can Cherry Pick Your Job Applications

You may not qualify for a job at a company that prefers the creme de la creme experts with advanced degrees, but that’s fine because you don’t need a job there, you just need a job to get your foot in the door.

When you’re taking the self-educated path, I would focus on smaller businesses like start-ups that want the skills but can’t pay big bucks for the education and experience. They’ll be more likely to 1) not care that your degree is in something related but not specific, or 2) that you created your portfolio on spec (they just want to see your work). They’re also less likely to do the impersonal form application, which is a real pain and unlikely to lead to a job (the majority of people still find jobs through good old fashioned personal acquaintances).

4. Everyone Loves a Hard Worker

Self-education and hard work may not be as sexy to some hiring managers as an advanced degree, but it is darn attractive to most realistic ones!

Think about it in terms of what people want to see in a job candidate. A genuine, hard-working person who is committed to ISD and can explain how his teaching career lead him to realize that he was meant to be an ISD (with a great self-made portfolio) would definitely hold sway.

Finally, I have it on good authority from a director of HR friend that a self-educated candidate who put the time into building the portfolio and could demonstrate the necessary skills for a job in his interview/portfolio/sample work would be an attractive candidate for a job.

I hope this helps, Terry! The #1 thing is to be persistent once you know what you want. I know the process is difficult and frustrating, but “the world will get out of the way for a man on a mission!”

Looking for your first job out of teaching can be frustrating and confusing. What do you do with your experience? Who will hire you? Wonder no more. Here’s the next spotlight of great jobs for former teachers.

What does a VA do during the day?

A virtual assistant’s day can vary greatly. It really depends on what you’ve contracted with your client to do. My team has helped me to compile a list of 125 services you can offer as a VA (and get paid for!) and even that’s not exhaustive.

From personal experience, the types of things that I do for my clients are email management (reading, sorting, filing, and replying to my client’s email as appropriate), customer service (processing payments or refunds and answering questions via a chat system), editing, writing and brainstorming opportunities for efficiency in my client’s business.

What are people willing to pay for a VA’s services?

According to the limited research that exists, the average North American virtual assistant earns $35-50 per hour (with some going as low $25 and others as high as $100).

From the students in my community, I’ve seen rates as low as $15 per hour, up to $40 per hour. When I started, I quoted my first client at $34 per hour and he didn’t seem to blink. We’ve since moved to a weekly retainer model and my average hourly wage is much higher now.

So, I guess the short answer is, it varies!

I always tell people to quote high enough that if you get the job, you’ll be happy doing it for that fee for some time. You don’t want to underbid to get the job and then be unhappy working for that rate long-term.

Why are people willing to pay for a VA’s services?

It saves them time, stress and makes their work more enjoyable.

Many entrepreneurs feel like they need to do it all. And maybe as you’re bootstrapping and growing your business initially, that’s true. But none of us are good at everything, nor do we enjoy doing it all.

Plus, for many entrepreneurs, they can bill out at a much higher rate than they pay their VA. So if they bill at $100 per hour and they’re paying their VA $25 per hour, they’re potentially net positive $75 per hour. It’s a form of subcontracting, really.

What personal characteristics do you think make the best VA?

I think a good candidate for VA work has the following characteristics:

A Type-A, organized approach to work (or interested in learning how to become uber organized)

Open to learning new programs and skills

Naturally curious

Communicative

Not afraid to take charge

Has a positive attitude

What digital skills do you need to have to be a VA?

I think you need to know how to use the internet and have a computer, good internet connection and telephone at your disposal.

Every client is going to use different tools (there are millions that exist), but most are pretty user-friendly and you can pick them up fairly quickly.

What are a few examples of how you can learn some of these skills?

In my course, we go into detail about how to use a few that are fairly common, like Trello, the Google tools suite, and Buffer. There’s a lesson devoted to each of these and enhanced training available with other packages.

Additionally, we’re building out that list of 125 services you can offer to include links to reputable (and free) resources listed around the web. I read a fair amount of blog posts and utilize YouTube tutorials to figure out how to do things. Google should be one of your BFFs! 😉

Are there any downsides to being a VA full-time? What about part-time?

I’ve only ever done it part-time and now it’s based on select tasks, rather than set hours. I think a downside to being a VA in general, is that you’re typically building someone else’s business, rather than your own. If you’re not interested in being a full-blown entrepreneur, then that’s not really an issue.

The only other downside might be if you don’t set appropriate expectations with clients. I.e. maybe your client thinks you’re available at the drop of a hat, but you’ve got a day job or family that you care for and can’t be available 24-7. (I haven’t found this to be an issue, but again, it comes down to setting appropriate expectations.)

A great pro to being a VA is that often you can earn while you’re learning, and you can scale the work up or down according to your schedule. For example, you can keep your full-time job and pick up VA clients on the side or during the summer as you build your skills and test if it’s a good fit for you.

What’s the best way to get started as a VA?

I know I’m biased, but I’ve worked really hard to make 30 Days or Less to Virtual Assistant Success the absolute best way to get started. Each lesson is succinct and actionable, encouraging you to complete the action steps, before moving to the next lesson. There are strategies for setting rates, finding clients, establishing a rockstar resume and more!

Best of all, the private Facebook group is super supportive and encouraging. It’s a really great group of people.

Lastly, I recently launched a VA matchmaking service to introduce qualified North American and European VAs with entrepreneurs, webpreneurs and small business owners that are looking for good people to help them take their businesses to the next level. It’s in beta now, but I’m really excited to grow the directory and help bring more VA business back this way.

If you can’t invest in a course at this time, you can start by contacting local businesses or people in your personal network to see if they need help managing email or taking care of easy web tasks. Pitch them with a few hours a week and see how it feels to be a Virtual Assistant! You’ll also want to connect with other VAs on popular blogs and websites to learn from each other.

Gina Horkey is a professional writer and online business marketing consultant. She has a decade of experience in the financial services industry and enjoys helping other freelancers gear up to quit their day jobs and take their side hustles full-time. She also shares what she’s learned while building her online business through her 30 Days or Less courses. On a personal note, she is a married, millennial mama to two precocious toddlers (and is thankful her husband has the patience of a saint as he stays at home with their children).

This summer I partnered with College Recruiter to share my perspective on how you can use an English major to make more money freelancing than in a 9-5 job. I’ve done it two years in a row now (first at $59K, soon to be at $89K), and I think it’s an important message to get out there.

The audience for this webinar is new grads, but there are lessons here for anyone at any stage of life, particularly teachers with any background (so long as you love to write).

I promise you: the only thing limiting you is you.

If you’re a new grad, if you know a new grad, or if you don’t think freelancing is a viable career, this is a great orientation to the concept of freelancing and the little-known benefits to freelancing over traditional employment.

Video not showing up? Click here to watch on YouTube. Extra points if you share with a friend ;-).

PS This will be my last post for 2016, as I retreat into my cocoon office and finish up the release of the updated 2016 Life After Teaching guide. God bless you, and I’ll see you in the New Year!

The New Year is a great time to reflect on bad habits that limit your potential. If you’re job-hunting or looking to make a career change, it’s also a perfect time to identify how your habits and attitude might affect the results of your job search.

Not only does a negative attitude repel human resources managers, but approaching the job hunt with a bad attitude will also limit your options from the start. You’ll be less likely to apply to jobs that might be a great fit, and you’ll identify fewer possibilities.

The best way to eliminate a negative attitude is to counter your negative self-talk with action. Here are five common job hunt excuses and how to beat them.

Looking for your first job out of teaching can be frustrating and confusing. What do you do with your experience? Who will hire you? Wonder no more. Here’s the next spotlight of great jobs for former teachers:

Freelancing and consulting are elusive jobs that many people struggle to define. These positions are the embodiment of entrepreneurship: you take essentially nothing and turn it into something that someone will give you money for. Myself, I’ve been freelancing since 2013 making a full time income working from home and I still stumble over how to describe my job without saying, “Um… I write a lot.”

That said, teachers have a number of the skills necessary to freelance or consult successfully — in fact, we’ve already featured another English teacher turned freelance writer — it’s just a matter of identifying and communicating your value. If you have a gut feeling that freelancing or consulting might be a good fit for you, read on!

What Is Freelancing and Consulting?

Freelancing is a generic term that refers to someone who does work on a project or contract basis and is not a full-time or part-time employee to any one person. Some freelancers have full-time or part-time jobs and “freelance” as a side hustle to make extra money on weeknights and weekends. Others freelance 100 percent, like me, and make a career out of it. However your workload breaks down to allow you to bring in the income you need or want is fair game in the freelance world.

Freelancing generally refers to any kind of work done on a project that will have deliverables, or actual delivered items such as a word document, image, or project. Consulting refers to the same process but is reserved for the process of giving advice, feedback, and strategy to someone in exchange for money. When done well, both of these types of work focus on the value of the results (in freelancing, the value of the deliverable; in consulting, the value of the implemented advice).

For example, I am a freelance writer and I also consult some clients on managing their digital web presence via their website and email newsletter. As a writer, I might write a blog post or an advertisement for a customer and that would result in a deliverable (a PDF or Word Document). As a consultant, I might have a 2-hr phone call about the best way to design a website, email marketing campaign, or product. Both of these jobs come from the three main parts of freelancing and consulting (establishing my expertise, finding clients, and doing good work) but neither comes from being a employee of anyone outside myself.

You can do almost anything as a freelancer, and I really mean anything. Here’s a short list of people I have met, worked with, and read about who generate an income themselves independent of a traditional employer:

The way to decide what you would do as a freelancer is to figure out your skill set (writing? taking photos? organizing people’s computer files?) and identify how or why someone would pay money for you to do that.

When you think of your idea and immediately say, “But that’s not realistic. How would I get health insurance?” I encourage you to change your question. Instead of dismissing a creative vision for your future, I encourage you to ask “How would that work?” Approach this process like you would a fun, no-pressure puzzle, and you will be surprised by the path that starts to form in front of your feet.

The Internet is an amazing resource for this. Simply do a web search for your skill and start following blogs and websites that can help you learn the field and how to market yourself. Don’t be intimidated by others in your field, just dive in with a low-cost, beautiful website from a company like SquareSpace or WordPress and start reading.

Here’s a rundown of the important skill sets, qualifications, and resources for freelancing and consulting.

Important Skills for Freelancing and Consulting

I’ve been working for myself as a freelance writer since 2013. The first year I made $59K and this year I am on track to break $80K. But it’s not easy! It’s a lot of work, passion, and stamina… that I think other teachers might have, too.

The skills you need will definitely depend on the kind of freelancing or consulting you will do.

As a graphic designer, you’ll need to know design tools like Photoshop. (Download the free version and a free introductory course that you find online and try it out. If you can, invest in a copy and a course.)

As a business strategist you’ll need an understanding of how businesses work and a high comfort level with talking to people. (Find business owners in your network and meet them for coffee for free. Ask them if you can coach them for free in exchange for a referral if you do a good job, then help them however you can.)

Personally, I think there are two absolutely vital skills you must have: resilience and organization.

Resilience because the freelance life is full of ups and downs, both emotionally and financially. It took me about a year to get the finances under control and not feel stressed because I was waiting on a check. And two years in, I still have to carefully monitor my workload and stress levels or I feel anxious and overwhelmed. Also, receiving feedback from clients day in and day out can cause you to doubt yourself. It takes courage to accept constructive criticism and still perform at your best day in and day out.

Organization because when you freelance, you are on your own! You must live by your deadlines to prove your trustworthiness and you must have a good system for completing the work you say you’ll do. I use a physical calendar and an online project management tool to keep my work organized.

Qualifications/Education for Freelancing and Consulting

One of the best things about freelancing is that the qualifications are up to you! Some freelancers make a name for themselves based on their educational experience. Others emphasize their real-world experience. What matters is that you have confidence in your knowledge in a given area and that you deliver value to the people you work with.

Nervous about that? Don’t worry! It definitely comes with time. I was very nervous about money and my skills as a writer when I first started out. I kept at it and continued to educate myself and practice my skills, and today I am much more comfortable with what I do.

That said, to become a confident freelance writer I did use a few tools and programs that I found by reading blogs. The best one was Brandgasm, which introduced me to design and copywriting. I also bought Carol Tice’s J-School.

Example Websites for Consultants and Freelancers

Here are a few websites and portfolios of freelancers and consultants I have met in my years freelancing:

I’ve heard the phrase “You’re only as valuable as your network” my entire life, but I never considered it a major asset because I couldn’t necessarily see it.

I can see my resume and my cover letter. I can see the results of the latest project I worked on at my job. But my network— an intangible workhorse plugging away on my behalf 24/7— was hard to quantify, and therefore invisible because I spent my time focusing on cohorts in school and coworkers at work.

The reality, however, is that whether you choose to see it or not, your network is incredibly important. Whether your network represents new business for your freelancing career or you’re on the hunt for a new job and being considered by a third-degree connection on LinkedIn, the value of your network can lead directly to the value of your income or salary (not to mention career mobility and entrepreneurial growth).

Every workplace has them. The obsessive long-distance runner traveling to Kathmandu for a 100-mile ultramarathon. The train collector taking a week’s vacation to visit the Colorado Railroad Museum.

But despite the fact that we all have special interests outside of our day jobs, these side passions don’t get a lot of credit in the workplace. Sometimes they’re written off as whimsical pastimes, and sometimes they’re disregarded entirely. After all, what does ultra-running 50-plus miles at a time really have to do with a job as a project management specialist?

It turns out that a deep interest in something unrelated to your career can actually have quite an impact on your skills and experiences in your day-to-day job. In fact, actively participating in new and old hobbies helps you develop important work skills that can benefit you in your career.

Please welcome this real story from Ayesha J. Gallion, an author and freelance writer who taught high school English for 10 years. Ayesha writes about the heavy decision-making process that comes with leaving teaching… and the surprising benefits that came along with it!

After almost 10 years, I resigned from my position as an English teacher at a magnet school for the arts in Newark. I was offered a senior position as a communications representative for the largest integrated plastics manufacturer in North America.

I was straddling fear and courage; the familiar and the unknown; complacency and unrest. I accepted the position.

Truth

The culture of humility and nobility that once kept me in the classroom no longer exists within the confines of modern urban education. In many ways, teachers are martyrs of sorts. I did not want to be so selfless anymore. All other parts of my life yearned for my return.

The often vacuous attempt to disaggregate data extracted from district-mandated assessments was embarrassing to behold, and I couldn’t remain in a space of victimization and frustration. I knew that if I wasn’t prepared to usurp the system, I had two options: become apathetic or seek a living outside of education. And since being apathetic is only a temporary coping mechanism, I realized that leaving was more sustainable.

I didn’t care about the pension, the “good benefits”, or the job security. I did care about the students that I would not be able to greet again in September. However, this is the necessary heartache that any parting teacher must anticipate. Chances are they will respect your decision; for they want you to experience all that you have taught them to attain, which is an authentic life.

There were colleagues I didn’t necessarily want to leave either. They had seen me through many phases in my life including pregnancy, divorce, and graduate school. The administration were often in my corner and respected my desire to teach literature and writing. Many of my colleagues were funny, kind, insightful. I wondered: What if my new colleagues were mean, short-tempered, and egotistical? But what if they were content, inspirational, and creative?

The risk to leave was undeniable, meanwhile the option to remain put my own evolution at risk. I was lucky enough to resign after school was out. But the closer my start date neared the more wildly the pendulum swung, from anxiety and then back to bravery.

Dare

Everything turned out just fine; transcendentally joyous, in fact.

From proofing manuals, interviewing manufacturing presidents, editing/writing for the corporate newsletter, and checking the AP Stylebook and Merriam-Webster every chance I get, I am in my element. I have the added bonus of learning all about the engineering processes of the plastics industry along with branding and marketing strategies.

My mind is alight with curiosity and stimulation every single day. My ideas and solutions are encouraged for logical, real world applications versus intangible variables beyond my control.

Work-life balance is no longer an anomaly. Once upon a time ,“normal business hours” sans summer vacation scared me. I thought life would be one monotonous roll of toilet paper. But when you love what you do everyday and you are inspired by the innovation of the culture in which you create/work – it is not a burden! Actually, an 8:30 to 5:30 gig that respects my ideas, allows me time to refuel, and uplifts the tenets of compassion and creativity are very beneficial.

I have an uninterrupted, guilt-free lunch where I can down a bowl of soup at Barnes and Noble, take an exercise class, or walk he company’s tree-lined grounds. At my desk, I drink water or tea all day and go to the bathroom when I need to as well.

The other parts of me are blossoming. Had I not left the classroom, they may have withered away, never to be fully applied in this robust fashion again.

Leap Into Life

Why simmer in any system that fosters dysfunction or maintains a culture of internal and cyclical sabotage? The educational industry – from its laughable Common Core Standards that read like Artificial Intelligence penned them to the removal of key staff members to balance budgets – is in need of major reform.

The other evening I was telling a friend, who also began a new career, about the intriguing aspects of my new job.

She said, “The old Ayesha is back! I can feel it!”

Two weeks before, another friend, who finalized his move cross-country to be more in his natural element, chided me for my fear of being inadequate. “They hired you because you are the perfect person for the job. Now all you have to do is own it and you’ll be fine.”

A familiar person is resurfacing. And I own and believe in my value. I yearned to be whole again, and if this is what getting back to me feels like, then I’m in for the ride of my life – with excellent benefits, vacation, and a pension, mind you.

Thank you for sharing your story, Ayesha, including the happy ending!

Do you have a question for Ayesha about Life After Teaching?

As a side note, here are Ayesha’s thoughts on the process of actually securing a job outside of teaching:

I found a new job as a communications representative by first noting my skill set I wanted to capitalize upon and enjoy executing, namely editorial- or public relations-based. I also knew that the content/industry within which I wanted to work was either residential, commercial, or industrial designing or manufacturing. I cross referenced companies that fell into those design categories and looked for vacancies that aligned with my skill set.

I perused everything from public relations agencies specializing in hospitality design to online retailers — anything with an opening for content production in those markets. I found my current job via a good old job board like Indeed. However, I strongly do not suggest limiting one’s search to popular job boards. Learn about the manufacturers, innovators, firms, and other entities — from boutique-sized to conglomerates — in the industry that inspires you and then view the job board on the company’s or its affiliates’ website.

As for actually getting a new job, it’s so important for teachers wanting to transition to take initiative and learn some sort of technical skill. For me, I wanted to get connected with blogging or online content production. The blog that I write for fun (on Chicago Steppin’ — an urban ballroom dance — at quirkystepper.wordpress.com ) turned out to be one of the factors that got me hired!

First, the company’s group president was able to gauge my writing voice/quality. Second, some of the technical work required at my new job also actually entailed working in WordPress (the website platform I used to blog). Since I had already been familiar with using the tool/website, I didn’t need training in that area. So, having hobbies or an interest in this area definitely tipped the scale in my favor.

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